Denim Monkeys

Pattern: Monkey Socks
Yarn: Hazel Knits Artisan Sock, Denim Blues

Well, thanks to our trip to Seattle last weekend (read: sitting in traffic a lot) I got my second Monkey completed pretty fast! We had a really wonderful time. We were flown over by Hub's company for a big party. We got to stay at the new Tulalip Hotel. It was really nice. We got MIL an adjoining room and she and the girls partied all night... swimming, eating licorice and staying up WAY too late! Meanwhile Hub and I got gussied up and went to the party... and after everyone else headed to the casino we snuck away to one of the cafes and had ourselves a little date. The next day after a scrumptious brunch we started heading back south... stopping at our best friends for lunch and a nap for Miss E. Then later we headed further south to my Grandparents house to help Great Grandpa celebrate his 83rd birthday. And the next morning we flew home again. It was a great trip. Unfortunatly, since we've been home I've been having vertigo off and on all week. So... I'm not doing much. Wishing it away! I've had this happen once before after flying. I can't remember how long it lasted. Seeing as this is day five, I'm getting downright tired of it. So, I will end it at that because I'm sitting here swaying like a sailor!

Tag I'm It!

Meghann got me.

6 Random Things about Me Meme

Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know your entry is up

1. Even though I'm fairly crunchy/organic-ish and insist on things like leech free water bottles... I drink diet Barq's Root Beer and diet Dr. Pepper. I know, liquid poison.

2. I never once had anything but a cut done to my hair until I turned 30. Coincidentally my second child was born 12 days before I turned 30. After that one... I had more gray hair than I was comfortable sporting.

3. I have kept my toenails painted pretty much my whole life... my theory... it makes my giant feet look feminine.

4. I get to go to Seattle this weekend and pick up an exclusive colorway of my favorite sock yarn at Hilltop Yarn!

5. I can physically get up anytime in the morning. But I'm not awake until noon. People have tried to tell me I need to go to bed earlier and that would solve it. Unfortunately, these are morning people. They just don't seem to understand it's biology. No matter what my sleep is doing... not awake in the brain until noon.

6. I'm slightly phone phobic for some reason. I'll email you 20x but never return your call...

Whew. That was hard.

Ok, six people... do six people even read my blog?! If you're reading this, then you're tagged! How's that? I know... I cheated.

Miss N's Stripey Socks

As you know... we're big fans of stripes here in this household. And as you know... Miss N is a fan of all things pink and girly. To be fair a mama has to make socks for each child. Since Miss N will wear Knit Picks Swish Superwash, I thought she would also be ok with the Essential and Felici lines. Turns out, I was right. This stuff is buttery soft and passes the "itchy" test. It may not the most durable, but she'll outgrow them before she has a chance to wear them out. Plus when the catalog came with this line in it... she followed me around with it pointing out that this yarn was 'her colors'. Obviously, I don't need much encouraging.

I under estimated the size of this poor child's foot. I thought I could easily get her a pair from one ball of yarn. Ha! She got her mama's feet. My poor little 4 year old with eight inch long feet. I had to dig a little stash yarn out to finish the toes. I wish I'd used it earlier in the sock so I could have added another 1/4 inch or so for more growing room without messing up the striping pattern. Ah well... live and learn.

She calls the picot edge "frizzles".

I have worked dilligently on another gift project. It's finished now and will be revealed in a few weeks. I promise... some actual bloggable projects soon!

The Curious Monkey Returns...

Remember last summer... I thought it would be SO CUTE to make Miss N some Monkey Socks in Curious George colors? Remember how she refused to wear them and freaked out saying they were soooooooooo itchy?! I was sad. But thankfully God gave me two daughters, the youngest of which isn't so picky. On a long shot I tried the single monkey on her and it nearly fit. So I decided to knit the mate. Even though I tried to brush it off, it has long bothered me to have a single sock sitting around.


I've detailed what I did to get this size sock on my Ravelry project page. Here last time I said I don't do that... hmm... guess I do on ocassion. ;) It might also be in my posts from last year on the project. The only problem... after a year, my gauge has changed. The new sock is a tiny bit looser than the original.

Miss E is in love with them. "Monkey socks Mommy, monkey socks!" Ah... such balm to my ears after the reaction of her sister last year. They have lots of growing room left in them so they should last her through the winter. And just so you don't think I have a cooperative 2 year old foot model I give you one of the 'good' bad shots. Her feet are actually in this one. That Lorna's Laces... it can take a beating. lol!


One more little thing. A few evenings ago I opened my knitting cabinet and found this. One of Miss N's flashcards. Apparently she thought it should go here.

Cycad and Baby Feet

Yarn: Monsoon Designs Twisty Sock, Cycad

Since I've been happily wearing these socks during the summer when the AC has our floor freezing cold, I felt a little guilty. I had this lovely sport weight in the stash and figured it was time it saw the light of day! Vanessa does such a lovely job with the dyeing. I really like how subtle it is. Of course this week feels like fall already.

I have a thing for baby feet. And a two year old is pushing the 'baby' limits, but still... irresistible fresh from a bath no?

I had to photograph them too. They are so much cuter than Hub's feet. Yummy little piggie toes to eat!

So much fun!

As you already know, I love to knit. I also love to give gifts... not just gifts, but thoughtful ones that I know people are going to really love you know? Not just a "well I need to get a gift... hmm... gift card" type of thing. I like to tuck away bits of information and save them for a while until I can put them to good use.

Well, I've been a busy little elf. Since the packages have now landed I have lots of little secrets and fun things to share!

There are two ladies I know who have had a rough year. They've both had repeated miscarriages. And now they are both about to have healthy babies! Praise God! I've had them both in my prayers for the last year. I haven't experienced that pain or loss, and I just can't imagine it. I look at my girls and I think 'what if...?'. It breaks my heart. SO. To mark this joyous time and the journey they have been through I wanted to make them something they could hold in their hands. Something tangible.

For my friend L and her baby girl 'Harvest'.


I also gave L the cowl I made from the same yarn. At the time I hadn't decided for sure, but it just kept screaming at me... 'give me to L!'. So I did.

Then there's baby 'Lime'. These mama's both give their in-utero babies fun names. This mama has colors for each of her kids for things like toothbrushes etc... 'Lime' is the sixth arrival to the household, so I can see how this comes in handy. 'Lime's' color is purple. But as you noticed... 'Lime's' name is green. This was irresistible. I couldn't not do it... I mean... I HAD the yarn in the stash already and you know I love stripes!


Don't you just LOVE those buttons?!

We won't know what flavor baby 'Lime' is until birth. But I think a tart little boy or girl baby will be quite irresistible in this.

And there is one more. I told you I had a lot of secrets!

This is friend R. R really wanted this item when she saw the new issue of Knitty come out. But R doesn't knit. It looked like it would be really fun to make. Definitely a diversion from my usual fare. And all I needed was sock yarn scraps. I mean really... How could I not?! I have loads of scraps! It turned out far and above my expectations. I really love how it turned out. I think the engineering of the piece is good too. The corsage is attached to the band by a button so that you can move it around to wherever you think it looks best. And the holes in the lace are the buttonholes for the band. So if it gets stretched out or the wearer shrinks or swells, it's adjustable. Neat!

Again, button love. Button shopping is so fun!

Isn't R gorgeous?! AND a great photographer too!

She also constantly fawns over Calorimetry's. Which are SO easy. I couldn't deprive her of that! After I finished Hub's hat I knocked this out real quick from the remainder of that yarn. Looks pretty good on her!


Whew! No more tricks up my sleeve. At least yet...

All details can be found on my Ravelry projects page. I'm not normally lazy like that but... this is a LOT!

Peppermint Mocha

Yarn: Claudia Handpainted Yarns, Peppermint Mocha - exclusive color to The Loopy Ewe
Pattern: Plain Janes

Yummy. I think that about sums it up.